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Salsalate attenuates diet induced non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice by decreasing lipogenic and inflammatory processes
Author(s) -
Liang Wen,
Verschuren Lars,
Mulder Petra,
Hoorn José W.A.,
Verheij Joanne,
Dam Andrea D.,
Boon Mariette R.,
Princen Hans M.G.,
Havekes Louis M.,
Kleemann Robert,
Hoek Anita M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/bph.13315
Subject(s) - steatohepatitis , medicine , endocrinology , steatosis , fatty liver , lipogenesis , fibrosis , insulin resistance , inflammation , metabolic syndrome , lipid metabolism , dyslipidemia , diabetes mellitus , disease
Background and Purpose Salsalate (salicylsalicylic acid) is an anti‐inflammatory drug that was recently found to exert beneficial metabolic effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. Although its utility in the prevention and management of a wide range of vascular disorders, including type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome has been suggested before, the potential of salsalate to protect against non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was therefore to ascertain the effects of salsalate on the development of NASH. Experimental Approach Transgenic APOE*3Leiden.CETP mice were fed a high‐fat and high‐cholesterol diet with or without salsalate for 12 and 20 weeks. The effects on body weight, plasma biochemical variables, liver histology and hepatic gene expression were assessed. Key Results Salsalate prevented weight gain, improved dyslipidemia and insulin resistance and ameliorated diet‐induced NASH, as shown by decreased hepatic microvesicular and macrovesicular steatosis, reduced hepatic inflammation and reduced development of fibrosis. Salsalate affected lipid metabolism by increasing β‐oxidation and decreasing lipogenesis, as shown by the activation of PPAR‐α, PPAR‐γ co‐activator 1β, RXR‐α and inhibition of genes controlled by the transcription factor MLXIPL/ChREBP. Inflammation was reduced by down‐regulation of the NF‐κB pathway, and fibrosis development was prevented by down‐regulation of TGF‐β signalling. Conclusions and Implications Salsalate exerted a preventive effect on the development of NASH and progression to fibrosis. These data suggest a clinical application of salsalate in preventing NASH.